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How many people ride without a windshield and why? Just curious. Thanks

9.7K views 82 replies 66 participants last post by  Philphine  
#1 ·
#2 ·
curious since there in nothing but a title to go on.. why do you want to know?

Windshields are like seats, tires, heck even like make and model bikes themselves.. an individual thing.. Some swear by them, some swear at them... I have ridden both ways and have had a shield on three different bikes.. in general I prefer none, just feels right without them
 
#3 ·
I rode my first 9 months with no windshield, now my Phantom has Honda's "boulevard" screen. Just enough to guide the air above my chest, but I still get wind in the face/helmet. I was amazed how much I was using my arms to fight the wind on my chest. The windshield changed my sense of speed by about 10mph immediately... I was pretty accurate on sticking to the speed limit without looking down to the speedometer, up until that change. Now I'm back to feeling the speed correctly again but it took time to re-learn. I like "no windshield" mostly because I see so many dirty windshields out there that never get cleaned. I figure they are a constant source of annoyance for riders and they just live with them being dirty. I don't want that, so I have a very minimalist windshield that is closer to a fairing.
 
#4 ·
Over the years ( since 1976) I've ridden both ways (with & without)

If I'm bopping around town (short trips) I go without (almost like riding with the "top down" (rag top) lol If I'm on the Highway and or LONG distance (300-500 miles a day) I ride with the "top UP" (with the wind shield)
we all have our likes & dislikes. What I like most about these wind shields or Bat wing brands is.....it's an EASY disconnect ,,on & off in seconds, which gives YOU a choice on how YOU want to ride (top UP or top Down) LOL
Soooo at the end of the day the CHOICE is YOURS. What do YOU want?
 
#5 ·
I don't like the look, but to each it's own. That's what it's all about. Everybody make's their ride what they like. Nobody should criticize someone's choices. Sometimes after a few hours on the slab that wind gets real tiresome though.
 
#6 ·
I ride without, partly because that's how I always rode before, partly because I don't care for the looks, and partly because I like the wind. With the drag bars on my Spirit, I have to lean forward a little, which makes a huge difference in the work it takes to fight the wind. Over 55 and I need to bend my elbows just a little more and the wind force is reduced. I might think differently if I was sitting bolt upright with pull back bars.
 
#7 ·
I've ridden both my shadow and my dads Harley dyna with a tombstone windshieldeld and hate it. Seems like once you get to highway speeds the wind coming over the shield has a buffetting effect and tends to shake my helmet back and forth. I also don't care for how they look on the bike or having to look through them.
 
#8 ·
i ride with out, due to windscreen makes my modular helmet rattle, very annoying, my son prefers with screen on his bike. as stated before individual prefrence. like PA Dave i have drag bars and also lean foward to help.
 
#11 ·
I've ridden every bike I've owned (up to last September) without a wind-shield. My Sabre had one pre-installed, and I do see the advantages on long rides by not having to fight the wind against your body, but there are times when it becomes annoying... helmet buffeting, headlight glare at night, can't see through it because some truck just splattered it (or bug guts), and of course the "sail" factor when it's really windy out or that big-rig blows by you doing 110! Since I pretty much ride long distances only on my Sabre, I just leave it on, but I do enjoy the feeling of the wind against my body and the clearer view through my face-shield, so the wind-shield comes off if I'm only running a "tank-full"... you know... like a trip to the store :D !
 
#12 ·
I ride without the windshield, never have. I also have the drag bars so I guess that helps. The main reason I ride without is the look. Love the feel of the wind in my face also :) I would maybe go with the memphis shades batwing instead.
 
#14 ·
I do both . . . I installed a Memphis Shades windshield with the "No Tool - Trigger Lock" mounting system. This allows me to install/remove the windshield in about 30 seconds. Windshield is great for freeways, interstates, and longer rides and at the same time, it's nice to pop it off for around town - especially when it's warm out.
 
#15 ·
I ride without. It was mainly because the bike came without and I never bothered to buy one. After last summer, doubt I will ever ride with one. On a poker run and 3 bikes ahead of me got sun glare and lost sight of the curve. Over the ditch and up the embankment he went with the coming back into the road airborn in front of us. Bike I'm sure was totaled but rider and passenger received minimal injuries.

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#16 ·
Both. My bike came with one when I bought it last year. I took it off right away and learned to ride with it sitting in my garage. At some point, I installed it and loved it.
It definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. I wish I had the quick release set up because I do like it on for the longer rides.
 
#20 ·
I ride with a windshield. I have ridden without, but I think the advantages of having one outweigh the the disadvantages. A few have mentioned that they don't like looking through a dirty windshield, but at the same time, if you didn't have the windshield on, all those bugs, birds, thrown grovel and such would be hitting you in the chest. I was coming home one night around sun down, and it must have been hatching night for all those little gnats or something. By the time I got home, my skin was almost black with bugs. I've also taken one too many june bugs shots to the neck. Bee swarms... wasps... yeah, my windshield stays on.
Bugs aside, I should mention that I generally do 200-300 mile rides every other weekend or so. The relief from the wind just makes the ride more comfortable and less tiring.
Many people don't like the look of a windshield. I think if you get the right shield for the bike, it could actually make it look better, but that's just my opinion.
 
#21 ·
I rode without a windshield when I had my RD-350 (see sig pic) but I was young and stupid then. Now that I'm older and wiser and have a full-size cruiser shield and lowers........

Phil
 
#23 ·
Windshields? I have ridden with (back in the day) and without (current). On a present day cruiser, to me they just don't look right. Maybe setup properly with a batwing faring and some hard saddlebags, it would look really good.
 
#25 ·
If I had a bagger I would have a windshield just because the look good with one. But for my current ride I Iike it without. The wind on my chest at 75mph doesn't bother me.

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#26 ·
I rode with one the KLR before I got the Shadow and I have to say I liked it on the KLR but I don't think it would look right on the Shadow. I wouldn't mind it for long touring rides in the future but right now I only commute 10 miles a day to work.


Andy
 
#27 ·
Some of you talk about looking "through" the windshield but everything I've read about proper sizing of windshields says you should look over top of windshield, not through it. If you're looking through it, it's too tall for you.

That said, I'm on my fifth bike and I had never even ridden with one until about a year ago I bought a National Cycle quick mount shield. I still can't decide that I like it. I don't like the buffeting. As soon as the wether is warmer I plan to try riding with and without to see which I prefer and I expect I will end up leaving it off and probably offering it up for sale.